Chapter 20 Kian
KIAN
"Ididn't expect to be spending most of Sunday in your office, Kian." Toven poured himself coffee from the carafe Shai had set up on the conference table. "Mia and I had to cancel brunch plans in the city with Mia's grandparents."
"Sorry about that," Kian said. "Where were you planning to have brunch?"
"A new place in Santa Monica that Frankie and Margo discovered and were raving about to Mia. She made reservations and was very unhappy when I told her that I had to cancel."
"You don't really have to be here," Kian said. "It's not like I needed you to compel the Russians or the enhanced soldiers."
Toven put his cup down and leaned back in his chair. "What if they refuse to do what we are asking them to do? You might need me to do some convincing."
"He might be right," Turner said. "This is an important component of our plan. I would hate to have to move to the contingency."
Onegus crossed his legs. "I'm, on the other hand, a little disappointed. I was looking forward to trying out a new weapon, especially since we were going to detonate the EMP over the Doomers' island. I am happy that we are keeping it as an option, though."
Kian doubted Onegus was truly disappointed. They all had reservations about using such a controversial weapon, and it was good that it had been relegated to a mere contingency.
He glanced at the phone that was the centerpiece of the conference table. The call was expected at two in the afternoon, and that had been three minutes ago. The delay shouldn't make him anxious, but given that getting the phone from Losham was a perilous operation, it might signify trouble.
"If the call doesn't come within the next ten minutes," Turner said without looking up from his legal pad, "we should assume that the operation has been compromised and proceed with contingency planning." He cast Onegus a sidelong glance. "You might get your wish after all."
"This is not my wish. If they were caught stealing Losham's phone, they're dead, and the mission becomes much more complicated, whether we use the EMP or not. It will be impossible to time it precisely."
"If the call doesn't come," Turner said, "we need to determine whether the soldiers betrayed the scientists, or the other way around. We might still manage to make contact with Volkov and Petrov."
When the phone buzzed, everyone released a relieved breath, and all eyes turned toward it.
The chief accepted the call, activated the speaker, and placed the phone in the center of the conference table.
"Doctor Volkov, I presume?" Onegus asked.
"Good afternoon." Volkov's voice was steady, but he sounded tense. "We're all present on our end."
"So are we. K is here along with several members of our team. Before we begin, were there any complications with retrieving the phone tonight?"
"Losham must be suspecting something," said the soldier who called himself Number One. "He changed the alarm code in his house and armed it earlier than usual. We had to improvise."
"I'm glad that it all worked out," Kian said.
"Let's get down to business. My team and I evaluated your situation, and we developed a framework.
I'm going to be straightforward with you about what we can and cannot do, and I don't want you to think that I'm using negotiation tactics. Our position is not negotiable."
"I appreciate the directness." Volkov sounded weary, probably guessing where Kian was going.
"I'll start with the women and children in the breeding enclosure.
We don't have the military capability to conduct a large-scale extraction from a fortified island with over ten thousand warriors.
I told you this during our first conversation, and our assessment hasn't changed.
However, we're not refusing to help them.
Their extraction is up to you, and you will decide how many women and children you can bring along when you escape the island.
At our end, we offer full support to everyone you extract.
We will provide financing, housing, medical care, rehabilitation, and assistance with their integration into society. "
There was a murmur on the other end, and Kian imagined Volkov covering the mic with his thumb to prevent them from hearing what was being said.
"We appreciate your offer," he said. "It's disappointing that you can't help us with the extraction, but we understand the limitations, and we are grateful for your generous offer."
Toven leaned toward the phone. "Doctor Volkov, my name is Tom, and I would like to ask the soldiers a question."
"Go ahead."
"I understand that you are the only ones who have contact with the women in the breeding enclosure."
"That is correct," Number One said in his flat, robotic-sounding tone.
"Did you tell anyone in there about your plans to save them?"
"We did not," Number One replied. "We have visited the enclosure, but we haven't told anyone anything. As K advised, we do not wish to raise hopes until we have a plan."
"Good. Can you estimate how many you might be able to get out of there?"
There was a long moment of silence on the other side. "Not at this time. We haven't formulated a plan yet."
"Let us know if you need help with that.
We have an expert strategist who can assist you, but in order for him to do so, you will need to supply the exact layout and location of the enclosure, its proximity to the harbor, etc.
I'm sure that Turner will have more to say about what he needs from you. "
Another long moment passed. "We need time to plan, and we need that other mode of communication that was mentioned during the previous conversation. Getting Losham's phone again might be problematic, if not impossible. We'd rather not risk it again."
"Onegus has the details on the communication device we will provide you with," Kian said. "I'll let him take over."
Onegus pulled his tablet closer. "I suggest that you take notes. We're going to deliver a secure communication device to you on Tuesday at zero five hundred, your time, and I need to walk you through the logistics."
"We're listening," Volkov said.
"The device will be carried by a micro-drone, which will be released from a larger drone at high altitude.
The larger drone will pass over the island at an elevation that's above your radar detection threshold.
The micro-drone will detach and descend to a predetermined location.
The problem is that the micro-drone is essentially falling rather than navigating.
It has stabilization fins and a basic guidance system, but it's not a precision instrument.
In order for the device to be small enough to avoid detection, the onboard technology and propulsion need to be minimal.
We can target a general area of roughly a hundred and fifty-meter radius.
The casing is fitted with a small infrared beacon that activates on impact.
It pulses once every three seconds and is visible from approximately two hundred meters in clear conditions.
Can you get night-vision goggles? These will go a long way toward helping you locate the device. "
"We can get them," Number One said.
"Good. Because finding a small object in the dark that might be wedged between rocks or hidden by vegetation is not something that should be attempted with the naked eye.
The beacon will make it straightforward for you, but it's invisible to anyone else that's not in close proximity, even if they have night-vision equipment, so even if a patrol stumbles into the area, they won't notice anything unusual. "
"Where are you planning to drop it?" Number One asked.
"I need you to suggest a location that is remote enough that the drone's descent won't be observed, clear enough of dense vegetation that the device can be located after landing, and accessible to your team without attracting attention."
"How small is this device?" Number One asked.
"The communication unit itself is about the size of a thumbnail.
It's embedded in a protective casing that's slightly larger, roughly the dimensions of a cigarette lighter.
The casing is matte black and designed to be inconspicuous.
The communication device has two parts, though.
A receiver, which is the small unit I described, and a transmitter that needs to be installed in a fixed location with line-of-sight to our satellite.
The transmitter is a flat disc, about the size of a coin, that adheres to any surface.
It needs to be placed somewhere elevated and unobstructed. "
The one they had installed on the harem cliffs seemed like ancient technology compared to this new generation. It had been much larger, which hadn't been a problem since it was easy to hide in a crevice on the cliff.
"Are there any limitations as to where it can be installed?" Number One asked. "Things that will interfere with the transmission?"
"That's an excellent question. Keep it away from the island communication towers. Other than that, anywhere with clear sky exposure that isn't regularly inspected is good. A rooftop or a water tower. The disc is small and inconspicuous. It looks like a piece of hardware."
"We'll find a suitable location," Number One said.
"As for the drop zone, there is a deserted stretch of coastline on the southeastern side of the island.
It's a rocky terrain with sparse vegetation, and no patrol routes pass through it because there's nothing there to guard.
We can provide you with the coordinates. "
"That sounds perfect," Onegus said.
"How does the communication device get recharged?" Dimitri asked.